Oval Cut Diamonds = Beautiful Brilliance & More Sparkle Effect On The Finger

IMPORTANT: When choosing oval cut diamonds be sure to avoid ones that strongly exhibit the bow-tie effect. This is an effect that causes a shadow in the shape of a bow tie right in the center of the oval diamond. The only way to assess the degree of the effect is through visual inspection – it is generally not stated on a diamond certificate.

Example of an Oval Diamond Ring with a Halo

Example of an Oval Diamond Ring WITHOUT a Halo

Even though oval cut diamonds are slightly less popular than round cut diamonds, they have the advantage of appearing larger due to their elongated shape. The average 1ct oval cut diamond has a 10 percent larger surface area than a 1 ct round diamond. This means you can get a diamond that is not only comparable to the round cut in brilliance, but it will appear larger.

The Oval Cut was designed by Lazare Kaplan in the early 1960s. It’s considered a modified brilliant cut and preserves many of the qualities of the original round brilliant cut. Because it has a shape and brilliance close to that of the round brilliant cut, it is the ideal choice if you like the look of a round stone but would prefer something more unique.

Oval cut diamonds also have the added benefit of making your fingers appear longer and slimmer, an effect that is often flattering. The shape itself is also extremely durable since there are no sharp corners or points which can be vulnerable to chipping or breaking.

Oval Cut Diamond Halo Examples

Characteristics To Look For

Shape

The oval cut diamond is very similar to the round cut because the faceting and proportions are almost the same, except that the shape is an elliptical. Preferences vary on how narrow or wide an oval cut diamond should be. The classic oval cut has a length-to-width ratio of 1.35 – 1.50. Higher length-to-width ratios result in longer and skinnier ovals and lower length-to-width ratios result in shorter, chubbier ovals.

Generally speaking, oval cuts have 56 facets (flat polished surfaces) but some may have a few more depending on how the pavilion (underside of the stone) is cut. The best settings for oval cut engagement rings include the 4-prong setting, the 6-prong setting, the three stone setting, the halo setting, and the bezel setting.

The Cut of Oval Cut Diamonds

Table ratio (width of table facet divided by diamond width) for a nice oval cut diamond is generally around 51 percent and above. Total depth ratio (depth divided by diamond width) should be around 53 percent or above. Keep in mind that the lower the depth ratio, the larger a diamond will appear when viewed from above.

In terms of culet (small area at the bottom of a diamond’s pavilion), it should be nonexistent to small. You should also avoid diamonds that have extremely thin or extremely thick girdle since an extremely thin girdle is more susceptible to chipping, and a chunky girdle will add weight to the diamond below the surface of what is seen (like an iceberg).

Color & Clarity

As with most other types of modified brilliant cuts, the oval cut may highlight tints of color, inclusions, and blemishes in a diamond so try to choose a diamond with a higher color and clarity grade. Generally speaking, the GIA grades diamonds on a color scale of D (colorless) through Z (light color). Based on this and the characteristics of an oval cut diamond, our clients tend to be drawn toward an oval diamond with a color range of D-J and a fluorescence that is nonexistent to medium. (If you’re working with Vanessa Nicole, don’t worry if you don’t know what this means because we know what characteristics to avoid.)

Almost all diamonds are graded for clarity using the 11 point diamond clarity scale created by the GIA – FL (flawless) through I3 (included inclusions). For good oval cut diamonds, clarity should be in the range of SI (slightly included) or above. Also, look for oval cut rings through jewelers who can provide certificates from reputable laboratories – such as the GIA, AGS, and IGI. We generally provide lab reports from GIA.

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